backstory: one month ago [contains movie spoilers]

[badboybutterman]

There was a huge explosion.

BOOM, it went, a blinding, pyrotechnic extravaganza with the volume turned up to eleven.

The building and everything in it came down on him. Bricks, mortar, riot gear, filing cabinets, hedgehog. Acrid smoke and dust from the blast blotted out the sky. There was a searing pain in his gut where he'd been shot by Mr. Weaver (what a cunt), and now the throbbing spread to his head, making him dizzy and delirious.

Suddenly he felt hands on him, grasping his shoulders and stroking his face, trying to coax him back to the here and now. "Hang on, Danny!" came the voice through the smoke. "Everything will be all right! Just hang on...it'll be all right..."

It was the voice of an angel. Well...Nicholas Angel, actually. But it was heavenly nevertheless, and as Danny looked up at him with blurring vision, he believed him, that everything would be all right if he could just hang on. He wanted to say something, he wanted to grin and wink and shoot off something smart like in the movies, maybe, "Ain't gonna let you down now by popping off, that's for sure!" -- but he couldn't. It wasn't in him. All he could do was shiver helplessly as his friend cradled him in his lap, blood soaking through their tattered clothes.

Nicholas's voice, desperate and frantic yet oddly comforting, was the last thing Danny heard before ambulance sirens cut through the heavy, dreadful silence that surrounded them.

***

What would John McClane do?

He'd be tough. He'd be a man. He wouldn't cry. Not even a gunshot to the gut would make him cry. But it was painful. Oh-so painful. Danny had no idea how long the surgery was or how many hours he was out cold, but waking up wasn't something he wanted to do right now if it meant having to feel this pain. So he lay there like a mummy in his hospital bed, wrapped up in bandages, tubes going in and out of who knows where, eyes closed to keep back the tears while morphine-addled thoughts drifted through his hazy mind.

He'd saved Nicholas's life.

You owe me big-time, motherfucker.

If Nicholas came to visit, this was the first thing he vowed to say to him. It'd be just like in the movies, wouldn't it? Yeah!

...Well, no.

Fuck the movies.

Nicholas didn't owe him a damn thing.

Comments

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

He's not a religious man. He never has been, really, but the thought that keeps running through his mind like a mantra as his friend lies bleeding in his arms is as close to a prayer as anything he's ever spoken aloud.

Please, please let him be alright.

Later, after an agonizingly long ambulance trip and an even longer wait in a sterile, unfriendly waiting room, there's finally news. The surgeon's face is grave and for a heart-stopping moment Angel fears the worst, but the news is that everything went as well as could be expected, and that God willing, Danny should make a full recovery in time. Nicholas feels almost giddy with relief.

Later still finds him sitting in a quiet hospital room, waiting for Danny to wake up.

[badboybutterman]

As Danny wades out of his deep drug-induced sleep, he senses...a presence in the room. It's a different presence, not one exuded by a nurse flitting about and making sure he's tucked in or checking the machine that goes "ping", and not by a doctor probing and probbing and flipping sheets on a clipboard. No, this presence is certainly different.

Danny's eyelids are heavy and he struggles to open them. The light that streams in is gray and murky, foggy at the edges. A tear falls from the corner of his eye to be absorbed in the pillow. And then everything becomes clear.

Yehey, Nick!

He wants to jump out of bed and shout with joy, but that's definitely a no-go, although he does manage a small, weak smile.

"Hey...partner."

His voice is thick and raspy as if he hadn't used it in ages.

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Hey."

He goes quiet for a moment. It's that he doesn't know what to say, it's more that he doesn't know how to say it. How do you thank someone for this?

"God, Danny, you scared the shit out of me."

... Okay, probably not like that.

[badboybutterman]

His brow crinkles like a confused puppy's.

"What? What did I do?"

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

He blinks furiously, willing the unshed tears in his eyes to go the fuck away.

"Sorry, I just... For a while there, I wasn't sure you were going to make it."

[badboybutterman]

His expression grows soft again.

"Aw, what made you think that? 'Course I was gonna make it. I 'eard you, you was tellin' me to hold on, an' I did. I mean, 'course I was gonna do it anyway, but...I couldn't let you down, now could I? An' everything's okay, right? Like you said?"

It didn't come out as slick and confident as he'd hoped, but he couldn't help the lump that had suddenly lodged itself in his throat.

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Yeah."

He sniffs slightly as he tries to think of a topic that won't result in him losing his composure completely.

"Brought you something."

[badboybutterman]

It's no mystery to Danny that Nicholas is having a hard time trying not to break down, but he figures that's just the way he's dealing with it for now.

Brightening a little: "Oh, yeah? What'sat, then? Hope it's a Cornetto, cos I hear hospital food is shite."

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

He manages a weak laugh. "Sorry, not this time."

From the bag next to his chair, he pulls out a potted lily, its container decorated with white ribbon, along with a much smaller plush monkey.

[badboybutterman]

Touched by his thoughtfulness, he gives a little gasp of surprise and grins widely.

"Aww, a peace lily! And a monkey! I've always wanted one of each."

He searches out Nicholas's eyes.

"They're lovely, Nick. Thank you."

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Thought they might keep you company."

He goes quiet again, suddenly fascinated by the pattern of the linoleum on the floor.

"Thank you."

[badboybutterman]

Nicholas seems intent on not looking at him, but he's too buzzed on morphine to make an issue of it. From beneath drooping eyelids, though, Danny fixes his gaze on him, willing him to look up.

"You're welcome."

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

He forces himself to meet Danny's eyes before he drifts off to sleep again.

"For everything, I mean. Not just saving my life."

He looks away again, but only briefly this time.

"Anyway... should probably let you get some rest now."

[badboybutterman]

Finally. Seeing his eyes makes him feel a lot better. He smiles and blinks drowsily, his speech becoming a bit slurred, much like it does after one too many pints.

"You're still welcome."

After a short pause: "I'd do it again, y'know."

He didn't really mean to say it out loud, but it was in his head anyway and the morphine was making him babble.

"I'd save your life ten times over if I had to, cos that's what partners do. They protect each other. They...they keep each other alive. They got each other's backs, y'know. I got yours, Nick, cos I know you got mine. I sound like a bloody movie, right now, don't I?"

He breaks out in a weak giggle.

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

His laughter sounds much more relaxed now. "Yeah, you really do."

[badboybutterman]

The sound of Nicholas's laughter is like an extra shot of painkillers. As he looks up at him, his giggles die down but a sleepy smile remains on his face.

"Guess I should shut up, then. This stuff they've got me on is almost better'n what they serve at the Crown, though I much prefer my doses in pints."

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Well when you get out of here, there's one with your name on it."

[badboybutterman]

He nods. "Mm, thanks, Nick. Definitely something to look forward to. ...Nick?"

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"What is it?"

[badboybutterman]

His eyelids flutter as he tries to keep them open.

"You'll come visit again tomorrow, right? I'd get awf'ly bored without you..."

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Of course I will."

There's a massive amount of work to do, phone calls to make and rebuilding to begin, but he'll be damned if he lets that keep him away.

[badboybutterman]

"Great..."

He finally lets his eyes close as a wave of lethargy washes over him, and he mumbles as he drifts away...

"You can tell me all about your day... Water my plant for me... Fluff my pillow..."

He chuckles softly in his sleep.

[uksupercop.livejournal.com]

"Hey now, don't press your luck."

He laughs quietly and gives Danny's hand a comforting squeeze.

"Sleep well."